Kidnap and Ransom

News, information and statistics about kidnap for ransom activities. Data about the security threat is collected from intelligence reports, security companies, kidnap for ransom insurance brokers, hostage negotiators and other public information.

There were 3,102 armored vehicles sold in Mexico in 2012, according to the Mexican Automotive Armour Association. 70 percent of the purchases of armored vehicles were made by the private sector, and 30 percent of vehicles were purchased by government security agencies.

The number of protected vehicles sold was up 10 percent from the amount sold in 2011.

The most popular types of vehicles that had security features attached to it were the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban and the Jeep Cherokee.

The increases in armored vehicles is attributed to the increase in violence from the drug trafficking cartels as well as the rise in kidnapping for ransom.

In 2012, the average ransom demand by militants in Nigeria for kidnapping hostages was $490,000, based on reported accounts. The average amount of ransom eventually paid to the kidnappers after negotiations was brought down to $50,000.

According to industry officials, there are around 300,000 private security guards working in the Central America region. The number of private guards in the region are higher than the number of police officers in the region. The rise in security guards to attributed to fears of kidnap for ransom activities.

In Guatemala, there are 24,000 police officers in the country. The number of security guards is estimated to be around 100,000.

In Costa Rica and Honduras, there are twice as many security guards as police officers in each country.

The private security guard industry in the region is growing at 8 percent annually.

In 2012, it was reported that the average kidnap for ransom payout in Mexico was up to $50,000.

The Ministry of Public Security in the country reported that up to 30 percent of all kidnappings for ransom were conducted by drug trafficking organizations, with the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas Cartel responsible for 50 percent of the kidnappings.

The Commissioner of the Federal CID of Malaysia reported that there were a total of 80 officially reported cases of kidnapping for ransom in the country between 2010 and May 15 of 2012. Out of the 80 cases, 59 kidnapping cases were solved and 61 kidnapping victims were released after either police action or the ransom being paid.